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Abstract：
China\'s poultry industry faces challenges in adopting and sustaining cage-free systems for poultry production. Effective interventions are crucial to support producers transitioning from cages to alternative systems or maintaining cage-free systems to improve animal welfare. However, little is known about how Chinese poultry producers perceive animal welfare in relation to cage-free systems and the importance of animal welfare in poultry production. Through a qualitative interview study with 30 Chinese farm owners, managers and senior managers from large-scale egg and broiler farms using cages and non-cage systems (collectively referred to as \"producers\"), this paper explores Chinese poultry producers\' attitudes and perceptions regarding animal welfare and welfare in different poultry housing systems. Template analysis was used to analyse the data from semi-structured interviews, which generated themes related to the participants\' awareness and understanding of the concept of animal welfare, the factors that impacted their choices of different housing systems, and the perceived priorities in poultry production. The responses revealed that the participating producers had a strong awareness and knowledge of animal welfare. However, the participants\' understanding of the term is heterogeneous: generally, egg producers emphasised natural behaviours, whereas broiler producers prioritised health and productivity. Nevertheless, profitability, leadership, and organisational policies primarily influenced housing system choices rather than animal welfare values. Economic motives drove egg producers towards cage-free systems, prompted by consumers\' and companies\' demand for cage-free eggs committed to transitioning away from cages by 2025. In conclusion, tailored interventions for different poultry sectors within China are necessary. While animal welfare values matter, economic incentives seem more promising for steering the shift towards and maintaining cage-free poultry production.
摘要：
中国家禽业在采用和维持家禽生产无笼系统方面面临挑战。有效的干预措施对于支持生产者从笼子过渡到替代系统或维持无笼系统以改善动物福利至关重要。然而,关于中国家禽生产者如何看待动物福利与无笼系统的关系以及动物福利在家禽生产中的重要性，人们知之甚少。通过对30位中国农场主的定性访谈研究，来自使用笼子和非笼子系统的大型鸡蛋和肉鸡养殖场的经理和高级经理（统称为“生产者”），本文探讨了中国家禽生产者对不同家禽住房系统中动物福利和福利的态度和看法。模板分析用于分析来自半结构化访谈的数据，产生了与参与者对动物福利概念的认识和理解相关的主题，影响他们选择不同住房制度的因素，以及家禽生产中的优先事项。答复显示，参与的生产者对动物福利有很强的认识和了解。然而,参与者对这个术语的理解是异质的：一般来说，鸡蛋生产者强调自然行为，而肉鸡生产者优先考虑健康和生产力。然而，盈利能力，领导力,和组织政策主要影响住房系统的选择，而不是动物福利价值。经济动机驱使鸡蛋生产者走向无笼系统，在消费者和公司的推动下，人们对承诺到2025年从笼子里转移出来的无笼鸡蛋的需求。总之,针对中国不同家禽业的量身定制干预措施是必要的。虽然动物福利价值观很重要，经济激励措施似乎更有希望引导转向和维持无笼家禽生产。
